It is important to get the horse off of his front end and use his hind end.

In Western Dressage, we need to understand that we always ride the horse from back to front, but raise the front end to make room for the back end to come under itself.

In order to do this we create impulsion, then rock the weight back to the hind end by creating a barrier in the front, elevating the withers through lifting the horse's poll/crest without hollowing the back.To view this video, you may need to install Quicktime

Video Archive

Have you ever wanted to know when you should ask or cue for a lead departure? What is the sequence of the footfall of the horse in the canter? These are some of the most common questions people ask when it comes to canter work with the horse.Cueing for a lead departure can be a...

Randy Byers competed with his horse, Carbon, at the Morgan show in Monroe Washington on May 10, 2012. He received the highest score of the day with a 69.524 in the USEF Basic test #1. This is an educational video to help you see the movements and scores that USDF judges are rewarding and looking for at...

"Rearing and flipping over backwards is the single most dangerous thing a horse can do!"Why does a horse rear?Rearing is a refusal to go forward or an evasion to your "go forward" aids or cues!""How do you fix a rearing problem? Simply put, "keep the horse's feet moving in any direction except...

The Need for "Speed" The Journey to a USA National Working Equitation Championship.
Nothing like a little adversity to build character I always say. "We all know the toughest journeys have the sweetest rewards."~Patty Carlson. The need for "SPEED"! I have to admit that when I first...

The Journey to a USA National Working Equitation Championship
Nothing like a little adversity to build character I always say. "We all know the toughest journeys have the sweetest rewards."~Patty Carlson. Well said Patty because the journey was a tuff one, let me explain:
As I rode Carbon into...

This test was taking at Donida Farms in Auburn Washington on 6/02/2012. Randy Byers was tested with Carbon an 8yr PMU QH from Canada. This video is meant to be an educational and inspirational video to show what the judges are looking for in a Western Dressage horse.Thanks again from Randy Byers Western...

A little Northwest rain and mud puddles never stops us from riding our horses. This was Carbon's best test ever! Carbon felt amazing that day. Other than a the circles not perfect, I could not ask for a better ride. I though he would balk at the mud puddle, but he did not miss a beat. This...

What is the difference between a spin and a turn on the haunches? What are some of the problems that can develop in a turn on the haunches and how do we troubleshoot or fix these issues? How do we speed up the spin?Thanks again from Randy Byers Western Dressage Team.To view this video, you may need to...

‎ Let's use a little logic: 2+2=4, 3+3=5. 100% of us can agree that one answer is correct and the other is not. This mutual agreement is because this statement is quantifiable and it is definitive not subjective.Dressage is "subjective" not "definitive". The USDF has done a great job trying to...

This video is supplemental information to Bridle Work. It is a short explanation of how your foot fall effects the horse's movement as you teach Bridle Work from the ground. This video is specifically formatted in the m4v format so you can upload it right into a...

On April 14th, 2012 Randy Byers performed a Western Dressage test at Donida Farms in Auburn Washington. He received a 68.1 on USEF Basic Western Dressage test 1To view this video, you may need to install Quicktime If you are having issues watching this video you can view it...

We hear Dressage instructors say that shoulder-in is a great movement for suppling, straightness, and getting the hind end to engage, but when was the last time you actually saw a practical application to this movement? In many of the western disciplines, it is commonly taught to do a haunches-in...

“Let's be perfectly frank and honest with ourselves regarding our relationship with any horse. When you finish your ride and you get down from the saddle, it isn't the people who watched you ride, the officials at some event or exhibition who have any right to judge you. The real thing that matters, the...

This was a question and answer session during the first MWWD Western Dressage clinic in Minnesota at the University of Minnesota in April of 2011. If you are having problems viewing this video, you can click on this link: http://blip.tv/western-dressage-today/western-dressage-q-a-6214616To view...

I am so proud of Blanche Dilleshaw and her mare Gadget. This was not only their first Western Dressage show, but their first show ever. The sad thing was she beat Carbon and I. They took 2nd place. Blanche is a real inspiration to me; I hope she is an inspiration to you too. This team has only been...

In Western Dressage, it is a requirement to have a soft, supple, round horse. Sometimes, and in some breeds, we have horses with or have been taught to have a high head carriage. Whenever the nose is above the drive-line, we can lose leverage and cause the horse to hollow out his back. In this video...

After two months of training, this12 year old Appy trail horse went and did his first Western Dressage test. If he can do it so can you!.This test was taken at Donida Farms in Auburn Washington on 6/02/2012. Cheryl Haaren was tested with Dunbar a 12yr Appaloosa gelding. This video is meant to be an...

W.E. First Phase (Dressage)
On Labor day weekend 2013 Carbon and I had the opportunity to drive up to Lexington Virginia from North Carolina to attend the Eastern Region Andalusian Horse Club's (ERAHC) annual Classic horse breed show. You may ask why would I take a Quarter Horse to an Andalusian...

This is the 2nd app in a series of 6 horse apps. This app includes:
exercises
videos concepts
troubleshooting that teaches you and your horse how to move shoulders.
This app is the prerequisite to neck reining and lateral movements. These exercises will give you power...

This is the 3rd app in a series of 6 horse apps. This is a step-by-step comprehensive horse training application that concentrates just on haunches. It has:
exercises
preloaded concept videos
cues/aids
troubleshooting
animations
Diagrams for further clarity on cues...

‎Dressage instructors use the "Pyramid" or "Training scale" to help measure the progress of your training. A horse should maintain rhythm and relaxation at the core of training. Suppling a horse is a great way to soften and relax a horse. You will notice in the beginning of the video the rider...

It is important to get the horse off of his front end and use his hind end. In Western Dressage, we need to understand that we always ride the horse from back to front, but raise the front end to make room for the back end to come under itself. In order to do this we create impulsion, then rock the...

This is the first app in a series of 6 horse riding/training apps. iHorseRiding: The Foundation, teaches the basics that all horses should know under saddle. You will learn the how and why of using cues and aids, specifically which cues and aids move which body parts and when and how to use and teach...

This is a very simple explanation of shoulder-inTo view this video, you may need to install Quicktime If you are having issues watching this video you can view it here: http://blip.tv/western-dressage-today/what-is-shoulders-in-6173731

This is the 4th app in a series of 6 horse apps. This is a step-by-step comprehensive horse training application that focuses on lateral movement. It has:
exercises
preloaded concept videos
cues/aids
troubleshooting.
animations
diagrams
This app will teach...

This is a video coaching session for a ground work exercise called "Bridle Work". It allows you to teach a cue from the ground that can be transferred to riding under saddle. This is cue number two. You are doing a great job Karen, just do not let the horse get too far out in front of you. The...

This video is supplemental information to Bridle Work. It is a helpful explanation of how long the attention span of a horse is. This video is in formatted in the m4v format so you can upload it right into a mobile device like a smart phone, which you...

Bridle Work Cue #1. Bridle Work is a ground exercise that teaches cues from the ground that transition to saddle.Karen, great job so far. Page 5 of iHorseTrainer iPocketGuide under completion says "Consistently moving foreword" before moving to Cue #2. Peanut is sleep walking. She is not yet moving...

W.E. Third Phase "Speed"
On Labor day weekend 2013 Carbon and I had the opportunity to drive up to Lexington Virginia from North Carolina to attend the Eastern Region Andalusian Horse Club's (ERAHC) annual Classic horse breed show. You may ask why would I take a Quarter Horse to an Andalusian breed...

The prerequisite to "Bridle Work" from the ground, is being able to put on the bridle. Many horses develop issues with having the bridle put on by the handler. This is a great little trick to try out before introducing the actual snaffle bit.

This short clip was taken from a clinic at University of Minnesota in 2011. This segment of the clinic was to give a basic understanding of a counter canter lead change vs simple change. The basic concept is to switch leads "FROM" the counter canter rather than switch "TO" the counter canter. It is...

This video is supplemental information to Bridle Work. It is an explanation of how to fix resistance in your horse. This video is specifically formatted in m4v format so you can upload it right into a mobile device like a smart phone, which you can take with you to the...

This video is supplemental information to Bridle Work. It is a short explantion of what natural horsemanship is and how firm or soft we need to be in our training.This video is specifically formatted in the m4v format so you can upload it right into a mobile device like a...

W.E. Second Phase "Ease Of Handling" (EOH)
On Labor day weekend 2013 Carbon and I had the opportunity to drive up to Lexington Virginia from North Carolina to attend the Eastern Region Andalusian Horse Club's (ERAHC) annual Classic horse breed show. You may ask why would I take a Quarter Horse to an...

Collection is so much more than a headset or a body frame - it's a mental, emotional, and physical state. learn how to activate your horse to build toward the ultimate sense of collection.This footage was taken from The Washington Horse Expo at Clark County Events Center Feb 2011.

This is an introduction to Bridle Work, what it is and what to expect..Bridle Wrok is a group of eight exercises that are taught from the ground to help you build riding cues when you start riding under saddle. When you are ready to ride, you will transfer the cues that you taught from the ground to...

This video is supplemental information to Bridle Work. It explains how to make practical application to these exercises. This video is specifically formatted in the m4v format so you can upload it right into a mobile device like a smart phone, which you can take with you to the...

"How Effective is your Ground Work?" This mobile app is designed to teach ground work exercises called "Bridle Work" (a John Lyons method). "Bridle Work" will help you teach your horse 8 essential cues from the ground that are needed to ride a horse under saddle. Bridle Work will prepare you and your...